You sometimes wonder just how loved Kyogo is outside of the Celtic family.
Within it, the guy is almost worshipped by the Hoops fans.
I haven’t seen someone taken so quickly to so many hearts since the days of Shunsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura was a phenomenal Celtic player. Not only for his iconic free kicks against Manchester United in the Champions League or against Kilmarnock to win the league, but his all round ability, charisma and humility is something rarely seen at Parkhead until Kyogo came along.
Plus, Nakamura’s stunning strike against Rangers at Celtic Park is one of those moments that will live with me forever.
Nakamura was, and still is, idolised by his countrymen. And incredibly, he carried on his playing career with Yokohama FC until he was 42, helping the J2 League club win promotion back the the Japanese top flight. And with 96 caps for his country, his status is and always will be that of a legend.
Kyogo is working his way to that mantle. At 26 years old, he has just ten caps to his name but that doesn’t diminish the regards he is held with back in Japan.
As he added his goal tally in last nights 3-1 win at Hibernian, Kyogo’s tenth goal of the season was splashed over Japan’s news and a resident of the country posted a picture on twitter showing rows of screens as Kyogo celebrated with his teammates.
東京駅でも #kyogoal pic.twitter.com/uYnGUVWUxB
— ショーン | Sean (@sean_1am) October 28, 2021
As Celtic continue their march up the table to put further pressure onto Rangers, it is Kyogo’s current form that is grabbing all the headlines.
And that’s how we want it!